Over the course of his career, E.L. Doctorow did an impeccable job of turning history into fodder for great drama. In the case of "Loon Lake," he takes a collage approach that features him jump through literary styles in the hopes of understanding the lives of chaacters defined by their criminality. With everyone centered around a lakeside cabin on "Loon Lake," they try to survive the moral panic without things spiraling out of control. The results are an entertaining look into early 20th century Americana and a deconstruction of nostalgia that finds the dark truths floating to the surface, creating an understanding of innocence lost that can only be achieved when one learns to let go.
The novel's strength derives from how well Doctorow jumps between styles. Some characters talk in first person while others rely on more familiar third person prose. Elsewhere is a mix of poetry and correspondences that allow for a greater world to be made on the page. As a result, the complexity of the novel unfolds as the author reflects how these characters overlap and finds their own sanctuary. There's a madcap mix of drama and humor that builds, leaving suspense for where things are building to. The results are a satisfying conclusion that resolves on a moment of self-reflection, allowing the chaos to settle and consider the chance to rebuild for a more stable future. The only question is whether things will be better this time.
As a novel, "Loon Lake" is a triumphant work that finds Doctorow exploring the past with a fondness that elevates the conventional pastiche into something more human and recognizable. These characters may be from a totally different world, but their actions relate to ours while allowing readers to feel connected to a part of America that is gone. It's immersive and detailed in a way that encourages the reader to find subtext within the truth and results in a satisfying reading experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment